NFL Confidential: Teaching, learning the pitfalls for NFL rookies

It’s hard to imagine Adam Jones, once known as Pacman, becoming a role model.

Yet Jones seems to be intent on changing his image and warning young players to avoid the pitfalls that were so costly to his life and career. He even asked to speak to the rookies at the NFL’s annual Rookie Symposium near Cleveland last week.

Jones attended the one in 2005 as a rookie, but admits he didn’t learn from it.

‘I didn’t pay attention. That was a problem ... and it probably would have helped me out with a lot of situations I’ve been in. I wouldn’t want any of those guys to go through what I’ve gone through,’’ he told NFL.com.

“It’s not fun being on the news every day for this mistake or that mistake because your boy did this or you did that.’’

He said it makes a difference that he is a father now.

“At the end of the day, my oldest girl is six right now, and she can read,’’ Jones said. “She can type my name into a computer. You don’t want her to see all of those negative things.’’

Among other things, Jones was suspended for the 2007 season with Tennessee and for six games in 2008 when playing for Dallas. He is now with Cincinnati.

His biggest mistake was his involvement in a 2007 incident at a strip club in Las Vegas during the NBA All-Star weekend that led to club manager Tommy Urbanski being paralyzed from the waist down when he was shot. Although Jones wasn’t the shooter, a jury recently ordered Jones to pay $11.7 million in damages to three people, including Urbanski’s wife, Kathy.

Jones’ attorney, Lisa Rasmussen, told the Associated Press he will appeal and doesn’t have the money to pay the judgment. Jones will receive a base salary of $750,000 this season and could earn $250,000 in bonuses.

Urbanski said after winning the judgment, “If he makes a dime, we’re going after it.’’

Jones reportedly started the incident by making it “rain’’ when he threw hundreds of one-dollar bills on the stage. He was asked to leave after becoming angry when a dancer began taking the money without his permission.

He reportedly grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head on the stage, although he has denied that. The incident escalated into a shooting.

Jones was involved in several other altercations over the years and is now trying to put his life and career back together. Clearly, he will never have the career he could have had.

“It’s powerful any time you have a player share something that happened bad for him they could have avoided,’’ Blackmon said during the symposium in an interview on SiriusXM Radio.

Blackmon was arrested on June 4 in Stillwater, Okla., for aggravated DUI after registering a blood-alcohol level of .024, three times above the legal limit.

“I’m certainly not downplaying the situation. It was a poor judgment on my part, but I’ve put it behind me,’’ Blackmon said. “The team is backing me. I’ve got support from them and the players. Now, I’m just looking toward the future.’’

Blackmon has a court date on July 24 and the prosecutor in Oklahoma said he will take the case to trial if Blackmon doesn’t plead guilty. He could face discipline from the league and is likely to be placed in the NFL’s substance abuse program for evaluation and testing.

The rookies who attended the symposium were given pamphlets by the NFL Players Association about the Player Transportation Link service. Current and former players can call a 24-hour number to receive a ride and have their car transported for them. The cost of the confidential service is $90 an hour.

Blackmon is scheduled to report with the rest of the Jaguars on July 26 for training camp, but has to reach an agreement on his contract before he will be allowed to play.

He told NFL.com that he has a better awareness of how his life will change as an NFL player.

“There’s a lot going on when you get to this level,’’ he said. “So much going on off the field. You’re starting to pay bills. I can see why it’s easy to start trusting people, just take the easy route and let people take care of you. But everything you do, you need to check up on and make sure everything is right.’’

RUNNING DISPUTES

Matt Forte and Maurice Jones-Drew have a lot in common.

Both are running backs in contract disputes who have skipped their teams’ offseason programs and are represented by the same agent, Adisa Bakari.

But there are two major differences.

Jones-Drew doesn’t want to talk about it except to say it’s a business and wants something done. Forte has been very vocal. He even complained when the Bears signed former Oakland running back Michael Bush to a four-year deal.

“There’s only so many times a man that has done everything he’s been asked to do can be disrespected,’’ he tweeted. “Guess the GOOD GUYS do finish last.’’

The other big difference is Jones-Drew has two years left on the five-year deal he signed in 2009.Forte is a free agent and the Bears have placed the $7.7 million franchise tag on him.

Forte also indicated that he may skip training camp, but will be there for the regular season.

“As long as [Forte’s] there Sept. 9 [for the season opener], that’s all that counts,’’ Urlacher said.

It will be no surprise if Jones-Drew, like Forte, skips training camp.

Will he show up for regular season games? Jones-Drew has yet discuss that. Stay tuned.

L.A. CALLING

Commissioner Roger Goodell has a lot on his plate with concussion lawsuits, the collusion suit filed by the Players Association, the labor dispute with the referees and the bounty controversy with the Saints.

It certainly gave the impression Goodell believes a team may be ready to move sooner than later.

The good thing for the Jaguars is that they are no longer on the front burner in the speculation about teams possibly moving.

Owner Shad Khan has been emphatic that he has no plans to move and is investing millions of dollars in things like locker room upgrades, something an owner thinking about moving any time in the near future would be unlikely to do.

QUOTABLE

“As a Buffalo Bills fan, I hope there is so much turmoil during training camp. I hope [Tim] Tebow plays great, he pushes [Mark] Sanchez and all of a sudden the locker room is coming apart.’’ Former Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly on he wouldn’t be happy if he were Sanchez and the Jets brought in Tebow. The Bills open the season against the Jets on Sept. 9.

This story contains information from interviews, other beat writers, websites and news service reports.

I am with Kelly too, don't care about the problems though, just want Timmy to play well at whatever they ask him to do. This could get interesting up there in the Big Apple. As far as Blackmon's concerned , he definitly needs a mentor from the team to help him adjust to this new life. I sure hope he can. The Jags need him desperately.--------------Go Jaguars !